US/ND-1: Schools reselling????

Schools reselling????

Darlene H. Hartman-Hallam (Darlene@calamity.com)
Sat, 31 Aug 1996 12:00:11 +0000 

Quoted material:
.....................
For this reason, and until I see the discount levels involved, I am
thinking 
that school districts may well want to consider the option of declaring
themselves to be a reseller of telecommunications services under the new
law.  This provides discounts off retail along with freedom and
flexibility.
It will not initially make your local telco happy
......................

This is a very EXPENSIVE VENTURE for schools...with budget cuts, salary
freezes, riffing...plus the expense of licenses, equipment, maintenance,
attrition..........
In my opinion, schools are non-profit social institutions that have one
major purpose....providing educational development and practice along
with opportunity that when utilized by students, uncovers personal drive
and purpose in the world so they are contributors to society.  While
schools certainly have enough to do...partnering with community groups
rather than becoming resellers is an avenue worth investigating. 
Therein musters a bridge between schools and community, yet does not
dampen local telco or private initiative.  Someone has to invest,
usually it is more doable when the burden is shared.  

Other discussions surrounding connectivity and education skirt the
application of this service to curriculum outcomes and community needs. 
There are more studies documenting use of technologies and improved
student learning, but it is sketchy.  If one integrates seemlessly,
teaches wholistically, then how can one isolate the use of technologies
as a factor in improvement?

With that said...it is also my opinion, that schools need to push
forward to provide EVERY opportunity for student growth utilizing all
resources.  Some communities are not ready for this step, so from this
direction, schools should take the initiative in acquiring connectivity
whatever way possible and this may infact...urge communities forward
through the words of their children. There needs to be some flexibility
offered to schools who are blocked from local telcos, some alternative
that is economically feasible.  

When we are speaking of universal access, are we also speaking about
equity in education?

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 >--   Darlene@Calamity.com         Fremont County School District #38--<
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